Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 44mag on steriods, 445 supermag

Got to shoot some thru chronograph today. Kinda surprised IMR powder velocity was this low. Tried to find some AA1680 powder at LGS but none in stock. Think I'll back down the loads some.

Average 4 shot group:

240gr Sierra JHP/32.8gr W296-2200fps
240 Sierra JHP/31.3gr IMR4227-1965fps
225gr Hornady Flex-tip/24.5gr W296-2300fps

buckhunter...i would have kinda thought 4227 would yield better speeds also....maybe it will start holding its own with stuff in the 265/270/300gr weight class?


you've probably seen these links, but just in case you havent:

http://www.sixguns.com/BookOfThe44/bot44c40.htm

http://www.sixguns.com/tests/tt445sm.htm

Thanks for the links FyrepowrX.

I think I read TAFFIN TESTS: THE .445 SUPERMAG earlier while searching info. I read article again & the 1 thing besides resizing brass was this.

"Except for the case-sizing cautions, reloading the .44 SuperMag is the same as for reloading the .44 Magnum. A good heavy crimp is required both to keep bullets from moving forward in recoil as the big sixgun is fired, and also to get the powder started burning properly."

I don't have the problem that revolvers would have with bullet movement in cylinder. But the "good heavy crimp" to ignite the the powder properly was interesting. The loads I tested with the chrono had a reduced crimp on them than previously.

The articles were also interesting with Speer 240 FMJ bullets. I'm starting to compress loads at 31.3gr IMR-4227 with Sierra 240 JHP crimping in groove. So I'm backing this down a little. Not sure if H4227 & IMR4227 & Sierra take up same case capacity as Speer.
H110 loads listed in articles seem pretty hot also with Speer 240 JHP.

Been shooting this some on weekends. Still trying to get a great 4-shot group. Then I'll go for 5 shot, getting closer.
Went back to CCI LPM primers hoping to keep more constant velocity. Tried some loads extended out from grooves. Accuracy was decent but no better than these 2 groups seated at groove. Haven't adjusted scope up yet, W296/240gr sierra shoots above red dot. 100 yard range.
1st group below,shot 1&3 practically same hole with 4 shot right there with them.



Shot a few Nosler 240gr JHP, best group was AA1680.

Finally got a 4 shot group under 1" at 100yd.